King George VI Stakes Ante-Post Betting Tips and Preview

Highland Reel is so difficult to knock when assessing his chances to win this glistering prize for the second season running, it almost seems a fruitless task trying to be clever and look for one to beat him without knowing the full extent of the field and ground conditions on the day. Arriving here bang on top of his game following victories in the Coronation and Prince Of Wales’s Stakes respectively, there’s even a chance he could even go off odds-on if some of the other big players in the market decide to defect and run scared of Aidan O’Brien’s globe-trotting superstar (11-8 at time of writing).

Following his victory in the Group 1 Eclipse at Sandown last time out, Ulysses would appear to be one of the more obvious each-way alternatives, and now that he’s finally come of age and begun to live up to all the early hype, there’s every reason to be believe Sir Michael Stoute’s charge is now going to be a major force in all big middle-distances races for some time to come. One can’t help thinking, however, that a strong-run 1m 2f – particularly at Sandown – are probably his ideal conditions and given that he had every chance to go by Highland Reel at Ascot when they last met and didn’t, a place is probably the best connections can hope for if they do decide to come here with the son of Galileo. Idaho, winner of the Hardwicke Stakes at the Royal meeting, would be another to seriously consider if he were allowed to take his chance, but whether Ballydoyle would go down this particular route with him being as they also have the hot favourite in the race is very much open to debate.

Although beaten by Ulysses and Barney Roy in the Eclipse, DESERT ENCOUNTER (best price 50-1) at least proved he can cut it against the very best in Group 1 company and given that all his best form has come over 1m 4f previously, there’s every chance he may be capable of grabbing a large slice of the pie at much more rewarding odds. Last as the field turned for home at the Esher venue, David Simcock’s inmate impressed by the way he finished off his race down the outside and even though he never really threatened the front two, the fact that he outstayed the likes of Cliffs Of Moher and Eminent went a long way to justify connections’ bold bit of placing. Prior to that career-high effort, the son of Halling proved his liking for Ascot when running away with a listed contest over the C&D back in May (very smart speed figure) and if he does get his preferred cut in the ground on the day (thundery showers always likely at this time of year), there’s every chance he can outrun his current ante-post odds of 50-1.